Listen, I’m not much of a ‘crossover’ guy. I appreciated the heydey of DRI, Prong, Crumbsuckers, Ludichrist and recently, Detroit Hellmouth are decent , but for the most part i like my thrash and my puck/hardcore somewhat separate. But, like a professional, I occasionally try to get out of my comfort zone. Sometimes it works out great, sometimes it does not. The second album from Canada’s Epi-Demic, lies somewhere in the middle.

Alberta trio Epi-Demic check all the boxes; rough and ready production,  rough and ready vocals,some gang chants, hand drawn logo, real world/political/social commentary, a mix of thrash technicality and hardcore/punk energy. But for me, the 11 song thirty minute effort just never delivers anything memorable.

That said, there is a raw honesty and authenticity to every thing. tracks like “Ruthless Ambition”,”Stewing In Misery”the old school opening stomp of “Famine”, hardcore romp of “Punishment”  and bass licks of “Breaking your Mind” absolutely seem like they were pulled kicked and screaming from the late 80s. Just look at the video above for visual and sonic evidence. A lot of it is the Alchemy studios production where Jeff Muller has made the album truly sound like a classic crossover album. And it helps that guitarist/vocalist Adam H has clearly committed to the style with his gruff shouts and raw guitar riffs.

That said, I cant say I’m now a crossover concert and actively seeking out more recent bands in the style, but Epi-Demic did force me to listen to something different and something that certainly will appeal to the folks out there that  are still rocking the demin vests and high tops.

[Visit the band's website]

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